Match Report: Horsham U13s 25 – 40 Crawley U13s
On a crisp, frosty Sunday morning, Crawley U13s travelled to Horsham for the first of their four Waterfall fixtures. Despite a disrupted build-up due to recent weather and an early Christmas break, the atmosphere at a bustling Horsham RFC—with every pitch in use—sharpened the team's focus as they prepared to take to the main pitch.

A Scrappy First Half
By kick-off, the surface was in perfect condition. The opening exchanges were a physical stalemate played mostly around the halfway line. However, seven minutes in, Horsham capitalised on a dropped pass, with their winger gathering the ball for a 50m sprint to open the scoring.

Crawley initially showed signs of rustiness, with handling errors stalling their momentum. Nevertheless, the forwards remained disciplined, applying consistent pressure on the home side. This persistence paid off when Mason spotted an opening at the breakdown; he executed a powerful blindside break and a superb fend to race 40m for the equaliser.

The first half remained a see-saw affair. Horsham responded with a well-worked backs' try, only for Frankie to answer back with a storming individual run. Noah then joined the scoresheet with a trademark try, outpacing the defence for the first of his eventual hat-trick. While the Crawley pack began to dominate possession, further handling errors and some indecision in the final third kept the game tight.

Half-time score: Horsham 25 – 20 Crawley

Facing a stiff breeze in the second half, Crawley emerged from the break with a clear tactical plan. What followed was a period of near-total dominance. The front row and locks—Josh, Sam, Harry, and Travis—controlled the set-piece, providing a rock-solid platform. At the breakdown, the intensity of Frankie, Seb, Finley, and Dylan ensured Crawley won almost every ruck.

With a wealth of possession, the backs went to work. Noah was clinical, punishing the Horsham defence with his finishing ability. Despite Horsham’s best efforts to stay in the fight, they were overwhelmed by the constant onslaught, eventually conceding a penalty try as the pressure told.

Final Thoughts
This was arguably one of the team's finest halves of rugby. Every player contributed to defeating a very competent Horsham side. Most impressive was the "edge" Crawley showed—a collective hunger to pin the opposition in their own half despite playing against the wind.

A fantastic team effort. Well done to all involved!